As it happened: Shock winner in three-up sprint at Amstel Gold Men 2025

Hello and welcome to the 2025 Amstel Gold.

You join us as we await the beginning of Amstel Gold, the first of the week’s so-called ‘Ardennes Classics’ - albeit one that takes place in the Netherlands, rather than the Ardennes.

With multiple short climbs that are neither cobbled like at the Tour of Flanders, nor as long as those found at Liège–Bastogne–Liège, Amstel Gold is a alenced race that attracts a variety of different kinds of riders. 

That’s reflected by the fact that it is the only classics other than Strade Bianche to have been won by all three of Tadej Pogačar, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert.

Of those three riders, while Van der Poel has brought his spring to an end, both Pogačar and Van Aert are present today. Pogačar is - as he so often is - the top favourite for victory, in terrain that should suit him even more than the cobbled classics he’s just played such a starring role in.

While Van der Poel was Pogačar’s main rival on the cobbles, now he must contend with Remco Evenepoel in the Ardennes Classics. Though the Belgian has never before ridden Amstel Gold, it’s a race that suits his characteristics, and he’s already in remarkably good form following his injury layoff with victory at Brabantse Pijl, his first race day of the season.

The riders are on the move in Maastricht following the unofficial start, and await the flag to begin racing.

OFFICIAL START

And they're off!

The riders at the start in Maastricht.

It’s a dry, mild start in Maastricht, with the temperature at around 13 degrees. 

No sign of a breakaway forming just yet.

MAASBERG

The riders have reached the first climb of the day, the Maasberg (400m at 4.5%). They better get used to this sensation - the Maasberg is the first of 34 hills to be taken on today.

240KM TO GO

Still no breakaway has formed, but there has been a split in the peloton.

Pogačar is in the second group of the peloton split. We're not sure yet what caused it.

Two of Pogačar's strongest teammates are also present with him - Jhonatan Narváez and Tim Wellens.

230KM TO GO

As things stand the Pogačar is 20 seconds adrift from the main peloton.

Panic over - the Pogačar group is back in the main peloton. 

ADSTEEG

Time for the second climb of the day, Adsteeg. It's characteristc of this race for being short (500 metres) and not too steep (4.8%). It’s the quantity of these climbs rather than their severity that is the hardest thing to cope with.

220KM TO GO

A group of eight riders has formed ahead of the peloton. Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ) and the Unibet Tietema Rockets duo of Jelle Johannink and Hartthijs de Vries are among those present. 

The eight riders up the road, in front of an obligatory Amstel Gold windmill.

The peloton in pursuit.

Here’s a full run-down of the eight riders in the break:

Rémi Cavagna (Groupama-FDJ)

Rob Stannard (Bahrain-Victorious)

Michel Hessmann (Movistar)

Emiel Verstrynge (Alpecin-Deceuninck)

Jarrad Drizners (Lotto)

Cedric Beullens (Lotto)

Jelle Johannink (Unibet Tietema Rockets)

Hartthijs de Vries (Unibet Tietema Rockets)

210KM TO GO

This will be our break of the day - the peloton has sat up and allowed them a lead over several minutes.

BERGSEWEG

This break therefore leads the race as they begin a flurry of climbs in quick succession, starting with the Bergseweg.

KORENWEG

Immediately after cresting Bergseweg they start climbing the Korenweg. 

200KM TO GO

The break's lead is up to over four minutes They should be out for a long time from here on in.

NIJSWILLERWEG

The riders are over Nijswillerweg. That's five climbs completed already today.

RIJKSWEG

The riders are over the sixth hill of the day, the Rijksweg. That's the climbing done with for a little while, as we approach a rare flat stretch of the race. 

190KM TO GO

The break's lead has grown some more, to 4-30.

180KM TO GO

We've been racing for about 75km now, and things are settled into a holding pattern. The 8-man break still has a lead of 4-30 on the peloton.

The Women’s Amstel Gold is also taking place today, and they’re nearing the final 50km. You can follow all the action here.

170KM TO GO

The gap has come down over the last 10km, to just over four minutes.

WOLFSBERG

We're climbing again - the peloton are nearing the top of the Wolfesberg, while the break ahead have just started the Loorberg. 

LOORBERG

The peloton are now also over the Loorberg, where their deficit to the break has been reduced to 3-40.

160KM TO GO

The riders have been out there for over two hours, and have nearly completed 100km. This is a long slog of a day, which will have the riders thoroughly worn out by the time they reach the final climbs.

One climb set to be in that finale for the first time since 2017 is the Cauberg. Despite being Amstel Gold’s most famous climb, it has been relegated to a secondary role lately, tackled early in the race but not for the all-important finale. Today, it will take its old role as the final climb of the race, tackled just 2.5km from the finish.

SCHWEIBERG

They’re now climbing the Schweiberg. At 2.3km, it’s the longest one of the day so far.

The peloton, being led by Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates teammate Domen Novak.

150KM TO GO

The gap between the leaders and the peloton has come down some more, to three minutes. 

CAMERIG

Another climb done, the 3.5km, 4.1% Camerig.

140KM TO GO

The break aren't being given much leeway. There are still 140km to ride, and 24 hills to climb, but they're been brought back closer by the peloton to 2-40. 

VAALSERBERG

The riders have crested the summit of Vaalserberg, which is not only the highest point of the race, but also the highest point of the whole of the Netherlands.

As well as Pogačar and Evenepoel’s respective UAE Team Emirates and Soudal-QuickStep squads, Q36.5 are also assisting at the front of the peloton in service of their leader Tom Pidcock. Pidcock wasn’t able to follow Evenepoel’s move at Brabantse Pijl on Friday, and said he had work to do aead of today, but clearly has ambitions of competing with him and Pogačar today.

GEMMENICH

After descending the Vaalserberg the road went uphill again, for Gemmenich.

130KM TO GO

As we approach the halfway point of the race, the break's lead is at 2-20.

VIJLENERBOS

The gap is really starting to tumble now. As the go over the top of Vijlenerbos, it's down to 1-25.

There are just a few kilometres left of the women's Amstel Gold. You can follow the final moments here.

EPERHEIDE

They're now climbing the Eperheide, which lasts 2km at 5%. 

120KM TO GO

As they go over the top of the climb the gap's gone back up again for the first time in a while, to 1-40.

Tadej Pogačar, descending safely in the peloton.

GULPERBERG

That's the fifteenth climb of the day over and done with, the Gulperberg.

110KM TO GO

No change being reported in the gap, which remains at 1-40.

Here's Max Van Gils in the peloton. He was one of the stars of last year's spring, but has struggled for form and fitness so far this year. 

PLETTENBERGWEG

The climbs come really thick and fast during this phase of the race. The riders have just finished Plettenbergweg, and are now approaching the Eyserweg.

For the first time in a while we’ve had movement out of the peloton - Reuben Thompson and Simon Clarke have attacked. 

CRASH

There's been a crash, concerning some major names. Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert and Thibau Nys are all involved.

All three riders are back on their bikes, and now back in the peloton.

EYSERWEG

The Eyserweg has been completed; now on to the Schanternelsweg.

An interesting development here. Dylan van Baarle and Quinn Simmons have bridged up to Clarke and Thompson to form a chase group.

SCHANTERNELSWEG

That quartet has got a gap and are bearing down on the leaders as they go over the Schanternelsweg.

100KM TO GO

The chasers are 15 seconds behind the eight leaders, and 35 seconds ahead of the peloton. 

Soudal-QuickStep's Pepijn Reinderink has abandoned the race, leaving Evenepoel a man down.

Here's an image from a little earlier on in the race of the peloton splitting up on the Gulperbergweg.

VRAKELBERG

Vrakelberg is the latest climb for them to take on. It averages 6.5%, but only for 600 metres. 

The pace is up in the peloton, and they're chasing the group of Van Baarle, Simmons, Clarke and Thompson. They have them at just 15 seconds. 

The peloton have brought back that chase group.

90KM TO GO

They're also bearing down on the break.

We're approaching a big moment in the race - the first of the day's three ascents of Cauberg.

CAUBERG

Here we go, the break have started the Cauberg!

Already it's breaking up at the front - only Hessmann, Cavagna, Johannink and Beullens are left, the rest of the break having been dropped. 

Those four riders reach the top together.

The peloton reach the top not long after, being led by UAE.

It's still a big peloton, but riders have been dropped. Inclduing a surprse - Alex Aranburu, who was in great form in the Basque Country the week before last. 

GEULHEMMERBERG

Not long after recovering from the Cauberg, they’re now on the next climb, Geulhemmerberg.

80KM TO GO

The gap between the leaders is 15 as they climb the Geulhemmerberg.

Beullens has been dropped by the other three riders in the break on the climb.

A couple of riders have abandoned - Jhonatan Narváez and Marijn van den Berg.

 Beullens is back in the peloton.

Cavagna and Hessmann going clear, before being joined by Johannink.

Pogačar has three teammates leading him at the front of the peloton. He’s down a man following Narváez’s crash.

One man we haven’t talked about much today is Wout van Aert. Though he doesn’t seem as strong a candidate as Pogačar and Evenepoel, the fact he managed to withstand the latter’s attacks at Brabantse Pijl — even if he did surprisingly lose to him in the two-up sprint — shows he’s still in good form. Amstel Gold is a race that suits Van Aert, too, and won the last time he competed here in 2021.

 Hessmann gone clear from the rest of the break and leads the race alone. 

BEMELERBERG

Change in the peloton on the Bemelerberg climb, as Ineos take to the front. 

70KM TO GO

The peloton are only a few seconds behind Hessmann. Cavagna and Johannink have been brought back.

Madouas attacks from the peloton.

Mauro Schmid is with Madouas, but UAE close them down.

Hessmann was caught on the climb, meaning the race is all back togther.

This is the last period or relative respite before we hit the final phase of the race. The net 10km will go by without a climb, after which the last 50km will feature 10 climbs.

Tim Wellens has also abandoned the race, leaving Pog another man down. Still, they lead the peloton with McNulty, Sivakov and Großschartner.

Behind the UAEs, lots of Lidl-Trek riders are amassed. They have plenty of options, notably the super-talented young debutant Thibau Nys, Andrea Bagioli, and Mattias Skjelmose.

60KM TO GO

No more attacks out the peloton. UAE Team Emirates are controlling things at the front. 

Van Aert is making his way into the peloton after a comfort break. Things are calm for now as we await the road going uphill again.

UAE Team Emirates leading the peloton.

EF EducationEasyPost are also involved right towards the front. They’re main man is Ben Healy, who was so good here two years ago when he finished second, and is perhaps going even better at the moment if his huge solo attack to win a stage of Itulia Basque Country is anything to go by.

LOORBERG

It's EF who lead the peloton as they start climbing the Loorberg.

Albanese is the EF rider leading the peloton on the climb, Aranburu and Gal Glivar among those dropping out from the back.

Lidl-Trek take over at the front from Albanese.

50KM TO GO

Still Lidl-Trek lead as we enter the final 50km. You sense a big attack is coming from someone soon. Quite likely a certain Slovenian...

GULPERBERG

Attack from Alaphilippe on the Gulperberg...and Pogacar is on his wheel!

The two have gone clear, by seven seconds.

Healy and Nys are chasing ahead of the peloton.

Pogačar initially sat on Alaphilippe's wheel, but not comes through to lead.

Evenepoel and Van Aert were caught out by this attack, and are stuck in the peloton chasing.

Skjelmose attacks out of the peloton.

Multiple riders follow him. There's a sense of panic as Pogačar escapes up the road.

He and Alaphilippe aren't going clear yet though. Their lead is being pegged at 9 seconds.

Alaphilippe is taking a turn. This is the best he's looked for years.

Buitrago jumped out of the peloton, but he's also brought back.

KRUISBERG

Pogačar drops Alaphlippe immedatley as they start climbing the steep 9.2% slopes of the 500 metre Kruisberg.

Pog's over the top, and his gap to the peloton has grown to 12 seconds.

Skjelmose tried to go clear from the peloton on that climb again, but to no avail.

Here at last is Evenepoel. He's taken to the front of the peloton, of which only about 20 riders remain.

Van Aert is also in this peloton.

40KM TO GO

Pog's gap is growing now, to 25 seconds. The race could already be escaping up the road!

EYSERBOSWEG

Evenepoel has put his Soudal teammate Ilan Van Wilder to work as they climb the Eyserbosweg.

Alaphilippe isn't in the peloton, having been dropped out of it. He must have gone into the red with his attack with Pogačar.

Riders who are in the peloton: Evenepoel and his teammate Van Wilder and Schachmann, Van Aert, Benoot and Valter (Visma); Pidcock; Nys, Skjelmose; Blackmore; Powless; Matthews.

FROMBERG

Still Van Wilder leads the group as they climb the Fromberg.

Van Wilder isn't making any inroads on this gap, which has grown to 30 seconds. At some point, Evenepoel will need to take matters into his own hands.

There are about 15 riders in the main chase group, featuring most of the pre-race favourites. 

Ben Healy is also in the main chase group, as well as Romain Grégoire and Pog's teammate Brandon McNulty.

A full run-down of the riders in the chase: Evenepoel, Van Wilder, Pidcock, Van Aert, Benoot, McNulty, Matthews, Schmid, Nys, Skjelmose, Healy, Powless, Fisher-Black, Barre, Gregoire, Q.Hermans and Blackmore. 

KEUTENBERG

Evenepoel's taken over the pace-setting on this climb, and shedding riders from the group.

That acceleration has brought the gap to Pog down, too, to 25 seconds. This race isn't over.

Skjelmose has attacked and is clear from the rest of the chasers. 

Pidcock is attacking now. He has Evenepoel, Schmid, Nys, Healy, Van Aert and a few others with him.

30KM TO GO

 Pogačar is 25 seconds ahead of Skjelmose, and 35 seconds ahead of the peloton. 

A familiar sight - Pogačar out front, with nobody anywhere near him.

Evenepoel attacks out of the peloton.

Schmid covered it, and the rest of the chasers are with him again.

Second on the road, Skjelmose is starting to slow. He's 30 seconds behind Pog, and just 5 seconds ahead of the chasers. 

Evenepoel attacks again...and this time he has a gap.

Evenepoel has caught Skjelmose.

Evenepoel is doing all of the work, with Skjelmose glued to his wheel.

CAUBERG

Pogačar starts the Cauberg, with his gap having come down a bit, to 24 seconds. Will it come down more by the top?

It's heading in that direction - Evenepoel's work has brought it down to 18 seconds on the first part of the climb.

Skjelmose takes a turn now on the climb. Their deficit has steadied to 18 seconds again as they near the top.

Meanwhile the chase group featuring Van Aert, Healy, Pidcock and others are looking at each other, the impotus having gone out.

Pog's over the top, his lead at 16 seconds. 

20KM TO GO

Pogačar hears the bell as he crosses the line to begin the final lap - as do Evenepoel and Skjelmose, just 13 seconds behind.

Meanwhile the ‘peloton’ (if we can call it that) is 15 seconds further back.

GEULHEMMERBERG

Pogačar's climbing again, the third-to-last climb - Geulhemmerberg

Pogačar's growing his lead again on the climb, up to 20 seconds again.

In the peloton, the riders are still attacking each other. Pidcock is the latest man to have a go.

Still the gap is 20 seconds, with 15km to go. Do Evenepoel and Skjelmose have enough to get back into contention?

The gap has come down a bit on this flat stretch, as they approach the final two climbs. It's at 18 seconds.

Now it's 15 seconds. The race is still on!

Meanwhile the peloton are 40 seconds behind Evenepoel and Skjelmose. They're still attacking each other, Healy the latest to try.

Pogačar has been looking over his shoulder a lot. He's not panicking, but looks anxious. This isn’t how he’s grown used to races playing out in recent years.

BEMELERBERG

Pog starts the Bemelerberg, his gap down to 9 seconds. They can see him!

10KM TO GO

Pogačar's over the top, his lead still at 10 seconds. This is going to be a real nail-biter.

Evenepoel and Skjelmose in pursuit. Could one of them be the winner today?

It's down to 7 seconds, as Pog nears the start of the Cauberg.

He's sitting up, the catch is about to be made!

That's it, the catch is made. And Evenepoel accelerates immediately!

Did anyone think this was possible when Pogačar first went clear?

Skelmose isn't taking a turn, leaving it to the World and Olympic champion to do the work.

Now Skjelmose rolls through, after being prompted by Pogačar.

The question is, who will be more fatigued - Pogačar after spending so much time out front alone, or Evenepoel and Skjelmose for their efforts to bring him back.

Right now it’s a battle of energy preservation, as each rider tries to use up as little as possible ahead of what’s sure to be an explosive finale.

They have time to play with - the chasers are 40 seconds behind.

We're about to swing onto the Cauberg.

CAUBERG

Here we go, Evenepoel leads the trio onto the Cauberg!

No attack yet, though Healy is attacking out of the peloton.

The pace is slow nobody wants to take it on.

Skjelmose moves to the front now, perhaps worried about slowing down too much and losing his current podium finish.

Are both Pogačar and Evenepoel going to back themselves in a sprint rather than attack?

Evenepoel takes over at the front again, but Pogačar refuses to take a turn.

1KM TO GO

It seems we're going to have a sprint.

Evenepoel beat Van Aert in a sprint two days ago - can he do the same against Pogačar (and Skjelmose) today?

Evenepoel still leads the trio.

Evenepoel sprints early!

It's a blanket finish between all three...

..and it seems Skjelmose has won!!

He's still waiting for confirmation.

SKJELMOSE WINS

The result is confirmed in a photo finish. What a turn up for the books!

Pogačar was second, by a few tyre widths. Evenepoel third.

Skjelmose was third in line in the sprint, followed Pogačar as he passed Evenepoel, then passed Pogačar himself just as the line approached.

"No, I really don't," says Skjelmose at the finish when asked if he can believe what just happened.

This is the biggest classic win of Skelmose’s career, and surely one he will always be remembered for. Pogačar and Evenepoel have built a reputation for invincibility in recent times - but that’s been blown apart today.

Here's the three riders just after crossing the line. You can see the shock on Skjelmose as he realises that he might just have won the race.

So Pogačar is beatable after all. Victory had seemed like a foregone conclusion when his lead grew to over 30 seconds, but just as at Paris-Roubaix and Milan-Sanremo earlier this spring, he had to settle for a podium spot.

Part of the reason Pogačar was beaten today was because of the formidable opponent he has in Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian did most of the work to bring him back, something Pogačar hasn’t experienced before in his previous long-range solo attacks.

We’ve been waiting a long time for a showdown between Pogačar and Evenepoel, who have in the past tended to excel in different races, and never reach a finish line together as they did today. A thrilling rivalry is brewing, even if both missed out on the win on this occasion.

Pogačar doesn't look too disgruntled on the podium, smiling and waving to the fans, and was the only one of the three to down the obligatory beer handed to him.

Thanks for joining us today, for what was a huge turn up for the books, and one of the most memorable and surprising classics in recent years. The status quo has shifted - Pogačar is beatable, Evenepoel is on fire, and Skjelmose is a new-found force to be reckoned with.

This promises to be a thrilling week of Ardennes Classics - so be sure to come back Wednesday for the next instalment, La Flèche Wallonne.